Norton smith



(No Model.)

N SMITH ACOMBINED FLAG HOLDER AND GANE.

Patented July ,17, 1894.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT Enron.

NORTON SMITH, OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-EIGHTHS TO n JOHN F. HUOKEL AND MILTON LEWIS, OF SAME PLACE.

l COMBINED FLAG-HOLDER AND CANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 523,293, dated July 1'7, 1894. l

' Application filed April 3, l 893. Serial No. 468.889. (No model.)

T0 cyl/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORTON SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and StateI of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Flag-Holder and Oane, of which the following is a specificat1on, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists ign the peculiar construction of a tubular sta or cane, having a rod therein adapted to be projected to display a banner, which is spread by means of spring actuated spreader bars, as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved device showing the frame projecting and the banner spread. Fig. 2 is a vertical, central, longitudinal section of my devlce, the frame and banner being housed 1n the staff. Fig. 3 isV an edge view of the banner frame and its bifurcated support, as shown in'Fig. 1 with the banner omitted for clearness.

While I have shown my invention as applled to display a ag, it is evident that it may be used for any kind of banner, for advertising purposes, society emblems, campaign banners, &c.

A is a tubular staff, preferably having a handle B the whole forming a cane.

C is a tip or cap adapted to t over the other end of the staff to closethe same, and preferbly having a spike or nail D, as usually employed in canes.. j

E is a rod or standard in the staff connected at its upper end to the cap C, and at its lower end provided -with a head or detent F engaging the spring trigger G, which has a finger piece HA extending outside the head or handle of the cane. This rod is guided in the guide block I secured inthe standard. .l is a coil spring surrounding the rod ixedly, secured at one end to the rod by the pin or fastener j and at the other end to the block I, acting during its contraction to project the outer end of the rod through the tip of the cane.

The upper portion of the rod E has secured thereto two arms e2 e diverging inwardly at their lower ends and extending up parallel to the cap C to whichthey are connected. These arms form a bifurcated extension of the rod E and are connected neartheir'lower ends by cross-bars or rods a b the former being located somewhat above the latter. On the cross bar a is pivotally `secured the horizontal spreader bars d d and the diagonal spreader bars c c and between and to these bars is secured the banner K. The size of the spreader bars is such as to allow their being folded or turned into the space between the arms e2 e when the banner is to be placed in the staff. e is a spring having a spirally coiled center which surrounds and is carried by the bar b; The ends f of the spring are curved upward and outward 'forming spring arms which are hooked or otherwise secured to the spreader bars d d at a point midway the length of the bars. This spring e acts to draw the bars d d from their vertical to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1. and through the medium of the banner draws the bars c c" into their inclined position thus spreading and holding the banner in its spread condition.

When the banner is to be spread the linger piece H is pressed, releasing the head F which allows the spring .I to contract and thereby project the rod E. As soon as the spring arms f reach a point beyond the end of the staff they will spread the banner. These arms preferably rest on the end of the staff, when the banner is spread, and thereby serve as a support and tend to steady the banner.

These spring arms incline upwardly from the standard to their outer ends, so that when it is desired to return the device to the sta, it may be done by reversing it, and pressing down upon the cap O which may be rested upon'the ground. The pressure of the .staff on the spring arms will force them inward closing the spreader bars and folding the device so that it will enter the staff, and it will be locked therein by the engagement of the trigger with the head. 4

It is evident that the staff may be an umbrella stick, or that the banner may be an ordinary banner without the spreader bars.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a' combined cane and flag holder, the combination with a hollow staff, of a spring actuated standard located therein, means for IOO retaining the standard within the staff, a folding sheet carried by the standard, means for extending the sheet, and a cap for the end of the staff, carried by the end of the standard, substantially as described.

2. In a combined cane and flag holder, the combination with a hollow staff, having a spring actuated trigger at or near the handle thereof, of a standard located within the stad, having a projection on its inner end,a bifurcated extension on the outer end of the standard, a connection between the upper ends of the arms of the bifurcation, a pivot pin extending across the bifurcation, braces pivoted on the pin and fitting in the bifurcation, a display sheet on the braces, a spring carried by the standard having its opposite ends secured to two of the braces, and a spring for projecting the standard, substantially as described.

3. Ina combined cane and fiag holder, the` combination with a hollow staff, having a spring catch therein at its handle, formed with a trigger projecting to the outside of the handle, of a spring pressed standard in the statt, a catch on the lower end of the same, a banner on the standard, a spring for spreading the same, and a ferrule cap for the staff, held closed by the standard, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NORTON SMITH. Witnesses:

JAMES WHITTEMORE,

M. B. ODOGHERTY. 

